Fawn Calf Test Results

[husker1]

About 8 months ago, we purchased 3 Angus donor cows from Kelly Schaff.  The three were all Fawn Calf carriers.  The donors calved in April with 2 heifer calves and 1 bull calf, all sired by SAV Density. 
The bull is just average, but the two heifer calves are fabulous. 

Bull pair had already went to the AI pasture, but we did get blood pulled on the two heifers before they went.  Got the tests back from Pfizer earlier this week.  Against the odds, BOTH heifer calves came back at CAF...FREE of the Fawn Calf defect!    <beer>  We will get the bull calf tested soon.

So, after a minimal investment, we now have a maternal sibling to SAV Pioneer's dam in our pasture! 

Attached are two of the donors that we will flush yet this summer and fall.  We realize that 1/2 of the calves will be carriers, but the clean ones should be valuable enough that we can afford to do this.

Just wanted to share our good luck with all my SP friends!

 

[Cattledog]

I really like the looks of those cows!  One thing I've noticed about Kelly's cowherd is that it's pretty hard to find a bad one!  I toured the place and was just blown away!

I hope the gamble pays off for you.  We flushed a carrier(didn't know she was one at the time) and got 6 heifers and 2 bulls.  All 6 heifers were carriers and the two May bulls were free.  The heifers got pretty difficult to market.

 

[husker1]

The cows are right in all ways...

That's horrible that all 6 were dirty, however, I already have an outlet for any dirty females out of these cows (premium over sale barn price).  Guy wants them for recips.  Dirty bulls will hit the checkbook in a negative way probably, though.

 

[LittleHeifer]

What is CAF? I have never heard of it
little heifer (angel)

 

[Okotoks]

About 8 months ago, we purchased 3 Angus donor cows from Kelly Schaff.  The three were all Fawn Calf carriers.  The donors calved in April with 2 heifer calves and 1 bull calf, all sired by SAV Density. 
The bull is just average, but the two heifer calves are fabulous. 

Bull pair had already went to the AI pasture, but we did get blood pulled on the two heifers before they went.  Got the tests back from Pfizer earlier this week.  Against the odds, BOTH heifer calves came back at CAF...FREE of the Fawn Calf defect!    <beer>   We will get the bull calf tested soon.

So, after a minimal investment, we now have a maternal sibling to SAV Pioneer's dam in our pasture! 

Attached are two of the donors that we will flush yet this summer and fall.  We realize that 1/2 of the calves will be carriers, but the clean ones should be valuable enough that we can afford to do this.

Just wanted to share our good luck with all my SP friends!

I'm thinking if you can get some more free daughters of those two you have made a good investment. Great cows, especially love the top one (thumbsup) Is this a common defect?

 

[DL]

:

Bull pair had already went to the AI pasture, but we did get blood pulled on the two heifers before they went.  Got the tests back from Pfizer earlier this week.  Against the odds, BOTH heifer calves came back at CAF...FREE of the Fawn Calf defect!    <beer>   We will get the bull calf tested soon.

Nice cow - just to clarify each heifer had a 50% chance of being free and a 50% chance of being a carrier - you got lucky!

 

[husker1]

CA (Contractual Arachnodactyly) is the abbreviation for Fawn Calf, one of the three Angus defects.  The report from pfizer comes back CA-F....meaning CA free.

Yep, I understood the percentages, but normally luck wouldn't yield 2 clean heifers out of 2!  I was prepared to see CAC  (meaning a CA carrier) on at least 1 of the 2.

Contractual Arachnodactyly (CA) 
CA, a genetic abnormality inherited as a simple recessive trait, has a negative impact on performance and productivity. Muscle development is reported consistently poor in the affected calves that survive. Severe cases have difficulty with locomotion and suckling and some die or get destroyed prematurely.

 

[cpubarn]

Congratulations on the clean test results!

Cool looking females that will GROW!


Mark

 

[LittleHeifer]

Thanks  that would be why I would have not heard of it I haven't done angus. lol. but its good to know. you never know what you are going to be asked in adv. senior showmanship  (thumbsup)(cow)
little heifer (angel)

 

[Aussie]

She is a good looking cow the top one. I have been doing the same buying stud carrier cows as recipts. They come with a known set of EBVs which helps when registering calves. They are proven and I mob up with a simmi bull after for good xbred calves. Congrats on a good deal for you

 

[ploughshare]

Please let us know when you are ready to sell the heifers.